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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

 

Today's Gospel: Luke 17:1-6

 

Jesus' teaching for today is one that we are all familiar with. He tells His disciples that those whose actions cause others to sin would be better off if they were tossed into the sea with a millstone tied around their necks. Whoa! That must have raised a few eyebrows. When I hear those words, various types of people usually come to mind, like modern movie scriptwriters who portray sinful acts as a common way of life, or maybe drug cartel members, or brutal world leaders who oppose the Church and suppress human rights … someone like that. “Whew,” I often think to myself, “so glad I’m not one of ‘those people'!”

However, today, as I read these verses in preparation for this Gospel reflection, what came to mind (for the first time), was me. I found myself looking back on my life, especially before I converted to the Catholic faith, and was much influenced by the culture. Did I, with my lack of a spiritual compass, ever draw anyone into sinful behavior? I could have! Maybe it was just a case of harsh words said, or of someone following my example when I made a bad decision. Leading an innocent one astray is serious enough that Jesus suggests a horrible death for such people. I should be sorrowful for those years when I was led astray myself and possibly set a poor example for others.

When encountering these challenging teachings of Christ, instead of looking outward, and pointing fingers at the sins of others, I should first look within and beg for God’s mercy and grace, and for healing and conversion for any “little ones” I may have misled. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, and especially on the innocent “little ones” of this world!

 

Ponder:

 

When I hear the difficult teachings of Christ, do I look around and point fingers at others, or do I look inward and search my own heart?

 

Pray:

 

Merciful and loving Father, make us decidedly aware of the possible ripple effect of our own sins, help us to dig deep, so that you can heal our hearts. Amen.

 

Click to tweet:
When I hear the difficult teachings of Christ, do I look around and point fingers at others, or do I look inward and search my own heart? #dailygospel

Daily Gospel 2

 

Copyright 2022 Charlene Rack

About the Author

Charlene Rack

Charlene Rack

Charlene Rack grew up in the "heartland," moved south to Cincinnati, married a Catholic man, converted to Catholicism, and had three children. Along the way, she's planned many mission trips, youth groups, and pilgrimages to the March for life for teens and young adults - all carried out with her goofy sense of humor and her enthusiastic sense of adventure. Read her blog at Grandma’s Coffee Soup.